Heat sealable label carrying an indelible ink

ABSTRACT

THIS DISCLOSURE INCLUDES A METHOD AND COMBINATION OF APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LINKED LABELS AND THE ATTACHMENT OF SUCH LABELS TO SELECTED GOODS AND AN INKED LABEL AS WELL AS AN INK COMPOSITION PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR THE PRINTING OF INKED LABELS. THE AFORESTATED LABEL, INK COMPOSITION, METHOD AND COMBINATION OF APPARATUS MAKING POSSIBLE THE EFFICIENT MANUFACTURE OF LABELS DIRECTLY AT THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT OF SUCH LABELS TO RESPECTIVE GOODS.

May l5. 1973 E. A. MCCAFFERTY 3,733,212

HEAT SEALABLE LABEL CARRYING AN INDELIBLE INK 5 Sheets-Sheet l FiledSept. 3, 1970 PRINT ING INK WOVEN FABRIC THERMOPLASTIC ADHESIVE FIG.2

INVENTOR EDWARD A. MccAFr-'ERTY CCAFFERTY May 15, 1973 E A M 3,733,212

HEAT SEALABLE LABEL GARMIN@ AN IMurfzLmLl-z INK 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOREDWARD A. MCCAFFERTY oo wm wm dmj w Pzmz zo` mnwwma Qz .Emi lo mmDmAIIIII WWMUMUMMQMZ. Zw: 5%? mi@ 12 moin. vv

dm?. 12D zo .imi zozm @m58 maw m2o zo wooo @z SQ: m38 It; SM2 Enma Mq1s, 1913 E. A MCCAFFERTY 3,733,212

HEAT SEALABLE LABEL CARRYING AN INDELIBLE INK Filed Sept. 3, 1970 5Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR EDWARD A. MCCAFFERTY ATTORNEYS Mly l E AMCCAFFERTY HEAT SBALABLE LABEL CARRYING AN INDELIBLE INK Filed Sept..'5, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR EDWARD A. Mc CAFFERTY ATTORNEYS Mayl5, 1973 E. A- MCCAFFERTY 3,733,212

HEAT SEALABLE LABEL CARRYING AN INDELIBLE INK Filed Sept. 3, 1970 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR EDWARD A. Mc CAFFERTY ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent Oce 3,733,2i2 Patented May 15, 1973 3,733,212 HEAT SEALABLE LABELCARRYING AN INDELIBLE INK Edward A. McCaiferty, Cincinnati, Ohio,assigner to Natmar, llnc., Cincinnati, Ohio Filed Sept. 3, 1970, Ser.No. 69,420 Int. Cl. C0937 7/04l U.S. Cl. 117-14 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This disclosure includes a method and combination ofapparatus for the manufacture of inked labels and the attachment of suchlabels to selected goods and an inked label as well as an inkcomposition particularly useful for the printing of inked labels. Theaforestated label, ink composition, method and combination of apparatusmaking possible the eiiicient manufacture of labels directly at thepoint of attachment of such labels to respective goods.

BACKGROUND' OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates generally to the art of providing labels for use on garments,home goods or any articles which bear a label for such information asidentification of the maker -of goods, specification of the goods,processing details relative to the goods or various other data typicallycontained on conventional labels. More particularly, this inventionrelates to a new and novel ink composition, label and the method andcombination of apparatus for printing and attaching labels of theaforestated nature, said method and combination having particularsignificance in garment handling situations such as cleaning facilities.

Description of the prior art Heretofore, labels for use on articles ofcommerce such as garments, mattresses, linens, towels and a multitude ofhome furnishings and other goods have typically been aihxed to the goodsby sewing type processes. lt was also customary to form the writtenindicia on such labels by threads appropriately positioned by varioussewing processes. In instances where printed or inked labels have beenutilized considerable difficulty has been experienced both in securingthe label to the goods as well as in providing a suitable ink capable offorming a permanent and distinct printed indicia on the label in arapid, eflicient and economical manner.

yIt is usual practice for manufacturers of goods, as well as for otherparties such as cleaning establishments who attached printed labels togarments and like goods, to acquire labels either pre-sewn orpre-printed and maintain large stores of such preformed labels forultimate attachment of the labels to the respective goods. Heretofore,there have not been adequate means for the user of the label to rapidlyand eiliciently print and attach the labels to such goods in a singlecontinuous operation at the label users own facility and as the goodsare being manufactured or otherwise handled.

For instance, in cleaning facilities, various types of textileidentification labels have been employed and various processes have beenused for the manufacture and attachment of such labels to garments.. Theproblem of labeling garments and other goods is particularly acute insuch cleaning facilities which process thousands of uniforms fromhospitals or uniform rental agencies. One of the more prevalent of theseprocesses heretofore utilized multi-colored rolls of continuous tape asa starting material wit-h each of the rolls preprinted with the name ofthe owner of a particular garment. The color of the tape indicated thetype of cleaning process which was to be applied to the garment. Inaddition, on each individual label, there was placed a series of lettersor numbers in a predetermined combination which provided a code for thehandling of the garment denoting such business related data as: the dayof the week the garment is to be delivered, the account number, who inthe garment owners establishment wears that particular uniform andmatters of this nature. This latter step typically is accomplished atthe cleaning facility by the use of a stamp printing device, having akeyboard for selection of the code of the nature of the Markmastermanufactured by Natmar, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The diiculty with this practice is that it required the cleaningsfacility to maintain tremendously large stores of tape as each of itscustomers would have its own pre-printed roll of tape and in addition,each customer would have a series of variously colored tapesdependingupon the particular types of cleaning processes to which the garments ofthat customer are subjected. The maintenance of such large stores notonly requires storage space and outlay of capital but in addition, ithas been found to be quite time consuming for the employees of suchcleaning establishments who Wish to place a label in a garment orreplace a label in an old garment to select the appropriate tape for therespective garment from the stores, remove the tape previously used inthe Markmaster and thread the new tape.

Similar difficulties are experienced by manufacturers of goods who mustmaintain an inventory of preformed labels for each individual type ofgoods manufactuered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is comprises of a new andimproved label and ink composition which can be utilized in a new andimproved method and combination of apparatus for the printing of labelsdirectly at the point of attachment of the labels to respective goods.

The method of manufacturing and attaching labels commences by providinga fibrous base material in the form of a single, continuous uni-coloredtape, the tape having a thermoplastic adhesive layer on one side anddefining an ink receiving surface on the opposite side thereof. Thisinitial step is followed by the step of sequentially printing at spacedpositions on the ink receiving surface of the base material an inkcomprising a water dispersible dye capable of indelibly dyeing thelibers of the base material when heated to an elevated temperature and.ya vehicle for said dye which is relatively nonevaporative at ambienttemperatures but capable of being dissipated at said elevatedtemperature, this vehicle consisting of water and polyglycols. Afterprinting, separate labels are formed by cutting the tape at pointsbetween the spaced printed positions. The labels formed in theaforestated manner are then placed on the respective articles with thethermoplastic adhesive layer in contacting relation thereto. Finally,the ink and the adhesive are heated to an elevated temperature to renderthe ink indelible and the labels are pressed against respective articlesto adhere the labels thereto.

In addition, the invention includes a combination of apparatus for themanufacture of textile identification labels specifically for attachmentto garments. This cornbination of apparatus includes means for supplyingcontinuous tape to a rotary tape printer for printing sequentially atspaced positions on said tape. The printer includes a frame, a printingroll, 4means for rotatably mounting the printing roll on the frame, aback up roller and means for rotatably mounting said back up roller onsaid frame in cooperative relation to said printing roll. A printing dyeis provided which has a type face defined thereon, said dye beingreleasably mounted on said printing roll such that when the tape is fedbetween the back up roller and the printing roll the type face prints anindicia in ink on the tape. The tape printer further includes an inksupply means which is selectively interchangeable with ease iu order tofacilitate variance of the color of the ink supplied to the print roll.In addition, the combination of apparatus includes a means cooperativelyassociated with the rotary printer for receiving the tape and printing acode thereon at the same spaced positions as the initial printing by therotary tape printer. Means are also provided for cutting the tapebetween the spaced printed positions to forni labels. Finally, means isprovided for applying heat to the label and pressing the label againstthe article to which it is to be adhered for rendering the ink indelibleand for adhering the label to the garment.

This invention also includes an ink for use in either rotary printingdevices or stamp printing devices comprised of a water dispersible dyecapable of indelibly dyeing fibrous material when heated to an elevatedtemperature. In addition, the ink includes a vehicle for the dye whichis relatively `nonevaporative at ambient temperatures but is capable ofbeing dissipated at the aforestated elevated temperature, said vehiclebeing comprised of polyglycols and water. The ink composition for use inrotary printing devices includes a vehicle which has a viscosity ofabout 500 to 800 centipoise at 25 C. The ink `composition for use in thestamp type printing devices includes a vehicle which has a viscosity ofabout 1800 to about 2200 centipoise at 25 C.

In addition this invention includes a label comprised of a base materialof a blend of natural and synthetic fibers, the material defining an inkreceiving surface thereon with a thermoplastic adhesive layer on theside of said base material opposite said ink receiving surface. Inaddition, the label contains a layer of ink in the form of a writtenindicia on the ink receiving surface of the base material. This ink iscomprised of a water dispersed dye capable of indelibly dyeing saidsynthetic fibers when heated to an elevated temperature and a vehiclefor said dye, the vehicle used for this dye is relativeiy nonevaporativeat ambient temperatures but capable of being dissipated at theaforestated elevated temperature. The viscosity of the ink contained onthe label varies dependent upon whether the ink is used in a rotary or astamp type printing device.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedprocess for the manufacture of labels and the attachment of same to anarticle of commerce in a manner more efficient and economical than thatheretofore known to solve the aforedescribed problems in the art.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a processwherein manufacturers of goods, cleaning facilities or others canthemselves produce variously colored labels containing printing such asthe aforedescribed labels used by cleaning facilities which includecolor coded property identification marks, the process permitting theproduction of such labels at or near their point of attachment to thegoods in respect to both time and location.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a process wherein asingle uni-colored base material in the form 0f a tape is all that isrequired to be maintained as stock by manufacturing, cleaning facilitiesor others while providing for color printing such as color coding of thenature which designates the cleaning processes to be employed on agarment in a cleaning facility.

Another principal object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved ink composition to solve the aforedescribed problems in the artand permit the printing of labels in selected colors at their point ofattachment to respective goods in an efficient and economical manner.

It is also an object of this invention to provide the aforedescribed inkcomposition to produce a label having indelible printing thereon in aclear and distinct image while providing an ink with long shelf life andone capable 4 of being easily and rapidly cleaned from the printingequipment so that color changes may be effected with a mini- .murn ofinconvenience.

It is further an object of this invention to provide an ink which can berendered indelible with the application of heat for only a very shortperiod of time, even fractions of a second.

A principal object of this invention is also to provide a new andimproved combination of apparatus wherein a label user such as acleaning facility may economically and efficiently manufacture textileidentification labels with a property identification mark color coded toindicate the appropriate cleaning process for a garment or the like aswell as letter and number coding to indicate other details of garmenthandling and attach such labels to a garment in a single operation withall of the printing and attaching apparatus located at the cleaningfacility thereby permitting the cleaning facility to utilize a singleunicolored fibrous tape and color code its own labels thus materiallyreducing the stock required to be maintained on hand and the timenecessary for the `manufacture and attachment of such labels.

It is also a principal object of this invention to provide a new andimproved label capable of being printed directly at the point ofattachment to respective goods in an etlicient and economical manner tothereby solve the aforedescribed problems in the art.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration examples ofcertain ernbodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thecombination of apparatus comprising this invention.

vFIG. 2 is a sectional view through a printed portion of the tape fromwhich the labels of this invention are cut.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the various steps of theprocess comprising this invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the tape showing both propertyidentification marks and coded garment handling marks with transversebroken lines indicating the point at which the tape is severed to formthe individual labels. the labels therefor being defined as thoseportions between the broken lines.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating the rotary tapeprinting device in cooperative relation with the selected code printingmeans.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the rotary printer shown in FIG. 5 withthe cover of the printer shown in open position in solid lines and aclosed position in broken lines with a portion of the cover broken away.

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken on lines 7--7 of FIG. 6 with the cover shownin broken lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, acombination of apparatus broadly designated by the reference numeral 1is illustrated as one embodiment of this invention and includes a tapesupply means illustrated as reel assembly 2, a rotary tape printer 4, aselectively variable code printer 6 and a temperature and pressureapplication device 8. Both the illustrated code printer 6 and the heatand pressure application device 8 were heretofore commerciallyavailable. The code printer device 6 is known as the Markmaster- Theheat and pressure device 8 is known as the Resistag Both the Markmasterand the Resistag are manufactured by Natmar, Inc., 4026 Cherry St.,Cincinnati, Ohio.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the rotary tape printer 4 is comprised of aprinting roll 10, a back up roller 12 and an ink roller 14. Each of theprinting roll 10, back up roller 12 and ink roller 14 is mounted forrotation on shafts 16, 1S and 20 respectively. The individual shafts 16,18 and 20 are carried by a frame member 22. While shaft 18 of the backup roller 12 is tixedly mounted on the frame 22, the shafts 16 and 20 ofthe printing roll 10 and ink roller 14 respectively are mounted tomovable levers 24 and 26 respectively. In this manner, the printing roll10 may be separated from the back up roller 12 to change the printingdie or thread the tape. Similarly, the ing roller 14 may be separatedfrom the printing roll 10 to allow a change of both the die and the inkroller. The lever 24 is pivotally mounted to the frame 22 by a pin orstud 28. The lever 26 is pivotally mounted to an intermediate ysectionof the lever 24 by means of a pin or stud 30. Thus, lever 26 moves Withlever 24 when the latter is actuated.

The lever 26 has mounted thereto a spring 32 as illustrated in FIG. forbiasing the ink roll 14 against a printing die 34 carried by theprinting roll 10 and shown in FIG. 5. Typically, the ink roll 14 iscomprised of a sponge like material and should be just slightlycompressed against the printing die 34. The printing die 34 illustratedherein is comprised of a band of rubber releasably mounted about theperiphery of the printing roll being retained in position about saidroll by the resiliency of the rubber. t

As it is important that the ink roll 14 is only slightly compressedagainst the printing die 34 an adjustable stop assembly 35 is providedcomprised of an adjusting screw 37, lock nut 39 and mounting flange 41.The adjusting screw 37 is threadingly engaged with said ange 41 andextends therethrough to an end portion 43 which is in abuttingengagement with the lever 24, said lever 24 acting as a stop member.Adjustment of Vscrew 37 will vary the spacing between rolls 10 and 14and thereby the degree of compression of the ink roll 14 against the die34.

The ink -roller 14 is comprised of an interchangeable cartridge 36 whichis secured on the mounting shaft 20 by means of a conventional lockingdevice 38 having a locking arm `40 movable between a positionperpendicular to the axis of shaft and a position parallel therewith torespectively provide for the locking and removal of the ink cartridge36. A release spring or lever 42 is provided and pivotally mounted tothe frame 22 by pin 28 for the purpose of urging ink cartridge 36 fromits mounted position on shaft 2t), eliminating the necessity of handlingthe ink cartridge 36. The ink cartridge 36, illustrated herein, iscomprised of a sponge like material which is charged with or holds alarge supply of ink. The cartridges are simply `stored at the locationIof the printer and because of the nature of the ink described hereincan remtain charged with ink for long periods of use or non-use.

A print roll spring bracket 45 is fixedly mounted to the frame 22 bybolts 47. A spring pin 49 is slideably received through an aperture inbracket 45 and has a terminal end portion 51 thereof at a right angle tosaid pin 49 and engaged in an aperture in lever 24. A pressure spring 53is mounted on pin 49 and bears against the bracket 45 and on adjustmentnut 55 which is threadingly engaged to a threaded portion of pin 49. Theaction of the spring, as illustrated in FIG, 6, causes the lever 24 tobe rotated in a clockwise manner to bring the die 34 into printingengagement rwith the tape 60 received about roller 12. Stop screw 57 isthreadingly engaged and received through a threaded bore in lever 24 sothat the end of screw 57 engaged bracket 45 as a stop member such thatthe printing die 34 is slightly compressed against tape 60.` A lock nut59 is provided on screw 57 in a conventional manner. g

A pair Iof detent levers '44 and 46 are provided for the purpose ofseparating respectively the printing roll 10 from the back up roller 12and the ink roller 14 from the printing roll 10. The detent lever 44 isswingably mounted about shaft 18 and contains a camming surface 48designed to be engageable with the lever 24 of the printing roll 10 suchthat when the detent lever 44 is swung into engagement with lever 24 thecam surface 48 strikes the lever and moves the lever outwardly toseparate the printing roll 10 from the back up roller 12. Similarly, thedetent lever 46 contains a cam surface 50 which like cam surface 48 ofdetent lever 44 engages the lever 26 which is to be separated, in thisinstance ink roller 14.

The variable code printer 6 illustrated herein is the Markmastermanufactured by Natmar, Inc., 4026 Cherry St., Cincinnati, Ohio. Thecode printer 6 includes a tape receiving and registering assembly 61through which the tape from the rotary printer 4 is pulled for printingof a code at sequential positions thereon. The Markmaster includes akeyboard 63 for manual selection of the code and a platen comprised of aseries 0f rings 65 having type characters about the periphery of each 0fsaid rings 65. The rings 65 are rotated by respective keys 69, on thekeyboard 63 in a conventional manner to place the appropriate typecharacters in printing position. An inking means 67 is provided to inkthe positioned characters just before the platen is actuated to move tostrike the tape and print the selected and positioned type charactersthereon.

The Resistag manufactured by Natmar, Inc., 4026 Cherry St., Cincinnati,Ohio employed for illustration of the heat and pressure device 8includes a manually actuated spring loaded platen 71 with automaticallycontrolled temperature and pressure means and a time release device forremoving the platen 71 from the label in a preselected period of time.

The means for supplying a continuous tape is illustrated herein as reelassembly 2 which as illustrated in FIG. 5 is rotatably mounted on ashaft 50 which is in turn fixedly mounted to the pedestal 52. A springtension device 54 is provided on the shaft 50 having a spring 56 and anadjustable collar 58 to provide a small amount of drag on the tape 60.As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 the tape is fed over a tension bar 62and around a guide bar 64 through adjustable guide collars 66 and 68.The tape then passes around the back up roller 12 Where it engages theprinting die 34.

The tape is manually pulled through the printing device 4 in theillustrated embodiment although powered tape movement means could easilybe employed. The frictional engagement of the tape 60 and the back uproller 12 causes the back up roller to rotate as the tape 60 is pulledthrough the rotary printer 4. Mating gears are provided on the printingroll 10 and the back up roller 12 to effect a rotation of the printingroll 14 when the tape 60 moves through the printer 4. The gears aredesignated by the reference numerals 61 and 63. The ink roller 14rotates with the printing roll 10 due to the frictional engagementbetween the two rollers.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 the tape 60 is comprised of a base material72 illustrated as a woven fabric having a thermoplastic adhesive layer70 on one side thereof and an ink layer 76 on the opposite side. Thethermoplastic adhesive layer 70 may be comprised of various compositionshowever in the preferred embodiment the thermoplastic adhesive is apolyvinyl chloride acetate applied as a plastisol. The woven fabric mayalso be comprised of various types of brous materials. Preferably,however, a blend of natural and synthetic fibers is employed in order toinsure a clear, distinct printed image as well as a secure bond of thelabel to the article. Specifically it has been found that tapes composedof polyester fiber and 35% cotto-n fiber provide the best results. TheWoven fabric or base material 72 defines an ink receiving surface 74 onwhich an ink layer 76 is printed by the rotary printer 4 and the stamptype printer 6.

Referring to FIG. 4, the type of tape which would for instance beemployed in such garment handling operations as occur in cleaningfacilities is illustrated. On the left hand side of FIG. 4, the tape isillustrated before printing. The central portion of the illustrated tapedepicts a property identification mark 78 which is printed by the rotaryprinter 4. This property identification mark 78 is printed in selectedcolors, the color of the mark 78 being related to the type of cleaningprocess to be employed on the garment to which the label is to beultimately attached. The right hand portion of the tape depicts the tapeafter printing by the stamp type printer 6 which prints a selected codeS in a position relative to each property identification mark 78. Thecode 80 is comprised of both letters and numbers and serves to designatesuch items as the delivery route to which the garment is to be directed,which is indicated by numeral 12, the day of the week for delivery,which is indicated by the letter F, the account number, which isindicated by the code 57D, and the person within the customersestablishment who wears a particular garment, which is indicated by thenumber 381. Coding of this type has been found to greatly facilitatecleaning operations particularly in relation to uniforms which are usedin hospitals, restaurants and the like.

After the property identification mark 78 and the garment handling code80 have been placed at spaced positions on the ink receiving surface 74of the base material 72, the tape 60 is cut between the spaced printedpositions as indicated by the lines 82 in FIG. 4. The cutting of thecontinuous tape 60 thereby forms individual separate labels 84 which inthe instance of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 would be thenadhered at an appropriate location in a particular garment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the steps of the process for forming labelsparticularly a garment handling label is illustrated. In Step l,designated by reference numeral 90, a fibrous base material in the formof a single continuous uni-colored tape is provided such as tape 60having a thermoplastic adhesive layer on one side thereof such as layer70 and defining on the opposite side thereof an ink receiving surface74. The fibrous base material can be provided in various manners, eitherby some type of automatic feeding system or by a manual pull througharrangement as is illustrated in FIG. l.

Step 2 of the process is generally illustrated at 92 and 94 in FIG. 3,which shows sequential printing at spaced positions on the ink receivingsurface 74 of the base material 72 in an ink which will be describedhereinafter. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, at 92, the colorcoded property identification mark is repetitively printed at sequentialpositions on the tape followed by the printing of a garment handlingcode 80 as shown at position 94.

It is advantageous to mark a number of garments from a particularcustomer at one time such that the printing dye 34 for that particularcustomer can be placed on the printing roll and a plurality of labelsprinted. All of that customers garments which are to undergo aparticular cleaning process have labels prepared having a propertyidentification mark 78 of a coded color, the color being related to thetype of cleaning process required. The labels are then prepared foranother set of that customers garments which may be subjected to adifferent type of cleaning process by removing the ink cartridge 36employed for the first group of labels and replacing it with a secondink cartridge 36 of a different color so that additional labels ofdifferently colored property identification marks 78 can be printed. Byusing a color to designate the cleaning process rather than a numericalcode, the problem of segregation of the garments upon receipt at thecleaning facilities is greatly facilitated. Further, the possibility oferror in subjecting a garment to the wrong cleaning process is reducedas the color is more easily discernible to the person doing thesegregating than a set of numbers.

The tape is then cut to provide individual labels as is indicated at 96in FIG. 3. As previously discussed, the tape 60 is cut along brokenlines 82 to define the individual labels 84. The cutting operation maybe accomplished by numerous conventional cutting means either manual orautomatic and including scissors.

As indicated in position 98 in FIG. 3, the labels 84 are placed on therespective articles with the thermoplastic adhesive layer in contactingrelation thereto. As shown at 100, heat and pressure is applied to thelabel for the purpose of heating the ink and adhesive to a sufficientlyelevated temperature to render the ink indelible and simultaneouslyadhere the label to the article. The heat and pressure application meansis illustrated in FIG. l as the Natmar Resistag but other and differenttypes of heating and pressure application means may be employed.

The ink layer 76 illustrated in FIG. 2 is comprised of a waterdispersible dye capable of indelibly dyeing the fibers of the basematerial 72 when heated to an elevated temperature and a vehicle forsaid dye which is relatively nonevaporative at ambient temperatures butcapable of being dissipated at said elevated temperature. The vehiclefor the water dispersible dye is comprised of water and polyglycols, thepolyglycols having a sufficiently high molecular weight that they remainrelatively nonevaporative at ambient temperatures.

The desired viscosity of the vehicle for the water dispersible dyevaries dependent upon the type of printing device which is to beemployed for applying the ink to the fibrous base material 72. Where arotary type printer such as printer 4 is utilized, the vehicle shouldhave a viscosity of about 500 to about 800 centipoise at 25 C.; thepreferred viscosity being about 600 centipoise at 25 C. Where however astamp type printer such as code printer 6 is utilized, the vehicle forsaid dye should have a viscosity of in the range of about 1800 to about2200 centipoise at 25 C.; the preferred viscosity being about 2000centipoise at 25 C. Viscosities in the above ranges have provided themost distinct printed images While at the same time being capable ofapplication by the respective types of printing devices. In the rotaryprinting printer device of the nature of that indicated by referencenumeral 4 which is particularly advantageous for use in garment handlingfacilities, the removable cartridge 36 is a sponge like material; thus,the ink must be sufficiently thin to be capable of being placed withinthe sponge material but by the same token sufficiently thick that theink can be uniformly transferred from the sponge material to the dye andultimately to the tape 60 without causing a blurred image.

The vehicle for use in rotary type printers is comprised of thefollowing constituents in the following parts by weight: propyleneglycol about 13 to about 16 parts, methoxy polyethylene glycol (averagemolecular weight 500-600) about 67 to about 44 parts and polyethyleneglycol (average molecular weight in excess of 18,000) about 10 to about30 parts. The above constituents being proportionally adjusted to totalparts, the quantity of methoxy polyethylene glycol increasingproportionally as the quantity of propylene glycol and polyethyleneglycol decreases proportionally. Water is added to the above 90 parts ofthe vehicle in an amount of approximately l0 parts by weight of waterand another 10 parts by weight of a dye system either dye or acombination of dye and urea is added. Preferably 6 parts dye areprovided with 4 parts of urea. The above methoxy polyethylene glycolpreferably has a molecular weight of approximately 550.

The preferred ink for use in rotary type printers is about 25 parts ofpolyethylene glycol (average molecular weight 20,000) about 50 parts ofmethoxy polyethylene glycol, about 15 parts propylene glycol, about 10parts water, about 6 parts dispersed dye and about 4 parts urea.

The vehicle for use in stamp type printers is comprised of the followingconstituents in the following parts by weight: methoxy polyethyleneglycol (average molecular weight 500-600) about 10 to about 30 parts andpolyethylene glycol (average molecular weight in excess of 9 18,000)about 70 parts. The dye system is initially dispersed in the methoxypolyethylene glycol and then the dispersed dye system and the methoxypolyethylene glycol are mixed with the polyethylene glycol.

The preferred ink for use in stamp type printers is about 70 parts ofpolyethylene glycol (average molecular weight 20,000) about 20 parts ofpropylene glycol, about 10 parts water, about 6 parts dispersed dye andabout 4 parts urea.

Any water dispersible dye capab-le of indelibly dyeing at least certainof the fibers of the base material when heated to an elevatedtemperature may be used. Specific examples are Dispersed Red 65,Dispersed Blue 59, Dispersed Yellow 69, Dispersed Orange 44, Vat Green 1and Vat Violet 17.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to this specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A label comprising:

(a) a base material comprised of polyester fibers or a blend ofpolyester and cotton fibers, said fibers defining an ink receivingsurface;

(b) a thermoplastic adhesive layer on the surface of said base materialopposite said ink receiving surface; and

(c) a layer of ink in the form of a written indicia on the ink receivingsurface of said base material, said ink being comprised of waterdispersed dye capable of indelibly dyeing said polyester fibers whenheated to an elevated temperature and a vehicle for said dye, said dyebeing selected from the group consisting of vat and dispersed dyes, saidvehicle being comprised of the following constituents in the followingparts by weight: propylene glycol of about 13 to about 16 parts; methoxypolyethylene glycol (average molecular weight 500-600) of about 67 toabout 44 parts; and polyethylene glycol (average molecular weight inexcess of 18,000) of about 10 to about 30 parts; said constituents beingadjusted to 90 parts, the quantity of methoxy polyethylene glycoldecreasing proportionately as the quantities of propylene glycol andpolyethylene glycol increase proportionately.

2. A label as defined in claim 1 wherein said base material consistsessentially of polyester fibers.

3. A label as defined in claim 1 wherein said base material consistsessentially of a blend of polyester and cotton fibers.

4. A label comprising:

(a) a base material comprised of polyester fibers or a blend of cottonand polyester fibers said fibers defining an ink receiving surface;

(b) a thermoplastic adhesive layer on the surface of said base materialopposite said ink receiving surface; and

(c) a layer of ink in the form of a written indicia on the ink receivingsurface of said base material, said ink being comprised of a waterdispersed dye capable of indelibly dyeing said polyester fibers whenheated to an elevated temperature and a vehicle for said dye,

said vehicle being comprised of the following constituents in thefollowing parts by weight: propylene glycol of about 13 to about 16parts; methoxy polyethylene glycol (average molecular weight 500-600) ofabout 67 to about 44 parts; and polyethylene glycol (average molecularweight in excess of 18,000) of about 10 to about 30 parts; saidconstituents being adjusted to parts, the quantity of methoxypolyethylene glycol decreasing proportionately as the quantities ofpropylene glycol and polyethylene glycol increase proportionately.

5. A label as recited in claim 4 wherein said base material consistsessentially of polyester fibers.

6. A label as defined in claim 4 wherein said base material consistsessentially of a blend of cotton and polyester fibers.

7. A label comprising:

(a) a base material comprised of polyester fibers or a blend of cottonand polyester fibers said fibers defining an ink receiving surface;

(b) a thermoplastic adhesive layer on the surface of said base materialopposite said ink receiving surface; and

(c) layer of ink in the form of a written indicia on the ink receivingsurface of said base material, said ink being comprised of a waterdispersed dye capable of indelibly dyeing said polyester fibers whenheated to an elevated temperature and a vehicle for said dye, saidvehicle being comprised of the following constituents in the followingparts by Weight: about 15 parts of propylene glycol; about 50 parts ofmethoxy polyethylene glycol (approximate molecular weight of 550); about25 parts of polyethylene glycol (approximate molecular weight of20,000); about 10l parts of water; about 6 parts of water dispersibledye; and about 4 parts of urea.

8. A label as defined in claim 7 wherein said base material consistsessentially of polyester fibers.

9. A label as defined in claim 7 wherein said base material consistsessentially of a blend of polyester and cotton fibers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,607,711 8/1952 Hendricks117-68.5 2,751,276 6/1956 Eaton 117-76 A 3,595,739 7/1971 Meyer 117-142,818,169 12/1957 Bergstedt 117-68.5 3,272,585 9/1966 Rafferty 106-223,468,679 9/ 1969 Furlotti 106--22 2,086,745 7/ 1937 Sell 106-213,519,443 7/ 1970 yKaplan et al. 106-23 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,054,746 1/1967 `Great Britain 8--93 1,071,074 6/ 1967 Great Britain 8-93 GEORGE F.LESMES, Primary Examiner R. J. ROCHE, Assistant Examiner

